Well tool anchoring device



Aug. 5, 1952 R. c. BAKER WELL T ooL ANCHORING DEVICE original Filed July 7, 1944 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 `HWENTOR. R51/BEN @.BAKER BY iff/@W A 7' TOR/VE YS Patented ug. 5, i952 UNITED srATEs WELL TOOL ANCHORING EVICE Reuben C. Baker, Coalinga, Calif., assignor to v Baker Oil Tools, Inc., Vernon, Calif., a corporation of California original application July 7,l 1944, serial No. 543,853. Divided and this application January 4, 1947, serial No. 720,243

16 Claims. (Cl. 16S-2l The present invention relates to well devices, and moreparticularly to devices adapted to be anchored' in well conduits, such as tubings, casings, liners, etc.

This application is a division of my application for Devices for Controlling Well Flow, Ser. No. 543,853, filed July 7, 1944, now abandoned because of the filing of a continuation of such application on February 23, 1950, Serial No. 147,631.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved well tool adapted to be locked in a well conduit at a conduit joint, or other circumferential recess in the conduit.

Another object of the invention involves the provision of a well tool adapted to be locked in a Well conduit recess against movement in both longitudinal directions and to be retrievable from the well conduit whenever desired.

1A' further object of the invention is to provide a .well tool having anchoring means adapted to fitv within a well conduit recess, such as its coupling joint space, the anchoring means being held positively outward in such recess to prevent longitudinal movement of the tool within the` conduit. a

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an elevation of an apparatus shown installed in well production tubing.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus with its parts in retracted position for loweringy through the production tubing.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the apparatus, -shown locked within a tubing joint recess;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section illustrating thev removal `o1 the apparatus upwardly vthrough the tubing.

As disclosed in the drawings, the invention is shown by wayvof example as applied to a ow control device A adapted to determine the eX- tent of upward flow of well production through a string of production tubing C running to vthe top or a well bore.l v This combination is described .in detail in my above identied application; For

purposes o f the present invention and to exemplify lone use of the anchoring device B, it is suicientto state that the lowv control device includes a cylinder IG containing piston means 2l, v

the wall of the. tubing ,A string dC'. rIhe pistonv means is connected to a valve head kI9 adapted to move upwardly into engagement with a valve seat I8, secured to the body I2, in order to c lose the passage 34 through the valve body.

The anchoring device B exemplifying the present invention is attached to the ,cylindrical body I0 to forman upward extension thereof andV in-l cludes a tubular mandrel 35 having its lower member 36a threaded into the cylinder head portion H of the cylinder, and its upper member` 3th threaded into the lower member. The upper mandrel member` is provided at its upper, end with anenl-arged head 3'( slidablyreceivinga retrieving sleeve 38 on the lower end of which is threaded a latch carrier 39 having an internal shoulder Ll forming a seat for a helical spring lil whose upper end engages the mandrel head 3l. A plurality of circumferentially spaced springlike latches 42 are formed integrally with and depend from the latch carrier 39, each latch haV- ing Aa rigid head 43 at its lower end provided with`v` an integral dog or slip lid of such length as to be able tot within a coupling space 45 formed between adjacent sections 45, 4l k01E-the well conduit space 45.

When the tool is run downwardly through the. tubing, the latches 42 'are prevented from moving outwardly, due to their inherent spring 4action,V

by va cup-shaped retainer .54 engaging the outer surface of each latch foot 43. This retainer l slidablevlongitudinally on the lower mandrel y,

member 36a. in Ymoving to and from latch Yretaining position. Circumferentially spaced leaf springs 55 are secured to the latch retainer by screws 55 or the like, and frictionally.engage,thel tubingfC, tending to resist movementofthelatch retainer 54' therewithin. y

V'A running-in tool D is employed for" lowering' and setting theftool in the production 'tubing'.4 This 'tool'A consists of an upper body 51 received withinth'e" retrieving sleeve 38 and having a depending pilot' 58 provided with an external circumferential. groove 59 in which is positioned a split coupling already installed in'the well bore.

aeoasis ring 6D which inherently tends to expand in an outward direction. A companion internal groove 6I is formed in the mandrel head 31 for reception of the split ring 60 to couple the running-in tool to the mandrel 36. A stinger or valve opening rod 62 isseeured to the pilot 58, as by a set screw 63. and extends downwardly through the central passage in the mandrel and cylinder head into engagement with the upper end of the piston 2 I. The valve opening rod 62 is of such length as to move the piston 2l downwardly against the action of a spring 33, within Ythe cylinder l0, when the coupling ring 6U is' in the internal groove 6l to hold the valve in open position while the apparatus is being run downwardly through the tubing C.

The parts are all arranged as disclosed in Fig. 2. with the running-in tool D in proper position within the mandrel 3B and cylinder IIJ. It is to be noted that the mandrel 36 has been moved down-with respect to the retrievingsleeve 38 and latches 42A toA disposethe latch Llock 56 below the head-43,which allows the latter to be forced inwardly andheld in retracted position by the retainer sleeve 54positioned-over the foot portions 48-of the latches T-he settingl spring 4l has been compressed and is held in such compressed state-by engagement ofthe foot portions 48` of thelatches with thetapered portion 50a of the rer-nains in position over thefoot portions 48 ofthe-heads 43 to-holdv theirVv dogs'Y or slips-44 in retracted position.f 1

When theapproximate depth at which apparatus is to be anchored-in the well tubing is reached,- the kwire line is movedupwardly causing theentireapparatus- Yto be elevated, with thev exception of thelatch retainer 54, Whose upward movement is prevented bythe friction springs 55.-

Such upward movement releases the latch retainer from the foot-portions 48-of the latches 42 and allows them to expand outwardly under their inherentspring-Y action against the wall of the tubing. This-outward expanding action mayy bee'assistedbytheeforce'of the compressed settingy spring 4-I tending to move the lock 50 upwardly with'respectlI to the latches tofshiftits conical expander portion 50a upwardly against andl along the-companion i-nclined Vsurfaces 48a at the -inner lower'endsofl the-foot'portions of the dogs or slips; 1'*

The-entire apparatus is elevated 'until the next higher couplingA spacer 45 formed byacoupling 644 connectingA adjacent sections 46; 41 of tubing together is reached; whereupon the dogs 44 on the latches can'inherently expand outwardly into the'space 45; 'the' setting'spring elevating the uppermandrel member 36h and attached 'lower mandrel member 36ar to position the latch lock or holder50'b'ehind thelatches, as shown in Fig. 3,`

Since the frictionr the ing tool.

4 49 and the periphery 52 of the lock engages the inner surfaces 53 of the foot portions 48 of the latches. When in this position, the apparatus cannot move upwardly except to a very slight extent as limited by the coupling space, since the latches 42 are prevented from movingjinwardly out of the coupling space 45 by engagement of the heads 43 with the periphery 52 of the latch holder 5d. A continuation of the upward strain on the wire line or tubing attached to the running-in tool D causes the split coupling ring 60 to bear.r againstA the tapered upper surface 65 of the internal groove 6 l, which will shift it inwardly to Vrelease the running-in tool D from the mandrel head 31, permitting withdrawal of the running-in tool to the surface of the well bore and also withdrawing valve opening rod 62 from the mandrel 36 and cylinder lll. While this upward force is being exerted on the running-in tool to release its upper mandrel, the upwardly and inwardly inclined surfaces 63 on the latch heads 43`engage the end 41a of the upper tubing'secftion 41, but the latch holder 50'stil1 prevents-the dogs from moving inwardly and holds the appa.;- ratus locked to theproduction tubing C against upward movement. Downward movement is prevented by engagement of the dogs 44 with the end.

4aof the lower tubing. section 46.

The device may be retrieved from the wellboref; Ywhenever desired by running a retrieving tool E? into the production tubing C on the end'of; a wire line'or other suitable string. (See Fig. 4).

mandrel head 58.

to it in any suitable fashion, as by a set screw1l, which extends throughk the, mandrel 36 and engages the 'piston 2:11to force. it downwardly against'the action of therspring33 and move'the valve head I9 from its seatv I8. The tool body is. provided'with a slip receiving groove 12 whoseV base portion formsV a slip expander 13 inclined fina downward and outward direction. A slip; 14

is received within this groove 12 and isi heldY therein by a retainer screw 15 extending through an elongated slot 161ml the base portion of :the slipand threaded into', the body 68 of the retrievbaseof the slip to prevent its loss from the body,

but still permitsvsliding` actionof'the slip. on the.v

expander portion 13 of the body. This slip.14 is provided with external wickers 18, preferably formed as a portion of a helical thread, which are4 adapted to engage companion internal ratchet threads 19 formed on the' interior of the retrievingsleeve 38.

When moving the tool downwardly, the slip 14 tends to move and remain in an inward position free from engagement with the ratchet teeth 1S on'the interior` of the retrieving sleeve, but upon upward movement of the 4wire line and-body 68`y the expander 13 forces the slip Y14 outwardly andl causes its wickers 13 to engage the ratchet teeth 191i In eifect, the slip and ratchet teethV on the-- retrieving sleeve formV a one-way clutch, which allows downward movement'of the bodyv 68land A, attached stinger 10 with respect to the retrieving sleeve 38;- but preventtheirrelative upward movein which the lockshoulder 5l" engages the lugs 75 ment.Y

` The Aretrieving tool-E is lowered throughthe production tubing C' until it enters the mandrelV Engagement of the dogs 44-with theV end fof the lower tubing section 36 and retrieving sleeve 38'.

The retrieving tool includes a body 68 adapted-tope` received withinthe retrieving; sleeve 38,` which providedwith apilotBS for receptionwithinthe This pilot also carries av depending stinger or valve opening rod'10 secured The head 11 oi this 's'crew engages thev dprevents downward movement of the latches 42 and retrieving sleeve 38, and allows theweight of the body`$8 to be imposed on the stinger 'l0 to open the valve against theforce of the spring 33 and production tubing pressure.` This weight also forces the mandrel 3S down to recompress the setting' spring 4| and shift the latch holder 5Fl downwardly from the latch dogs.' The latch holder 50 is held in this lower position and the valve maintained open by the clutching engagement ofthe slip 14 with the retrieving sleeve 38 andengagement of the body 68 with the mandrel head 3l. Upward movement of the wireline then elevatesthe entire mechanism through 'the production tubing, the inclined surfaces G6 of the latch heads 43 engagingv the. lower end 41a of each tubing section 41 to be forced inwardly free of. the mechanism. Thesejlatches 42 ride along the .walls'of the tubing sections until the entire device is .withdrawn from. the tubing at the surface of the well bore. `The retrieving tool E can then be withdrawn from the mandrel by unscrewing the body 68 and its slip 'M` from the ratchet threads 79 in the retrieving sleeve 38.

` It is, accordingly, apparent that an anchoring device has been devised capable vof securing a well tool in a recess within a well conduit, such as lthe tubing string referred to above. The latches 42 spring outwardly into the recess or coupling space 45 and are maintained positively in such outward position to prevent longitudinal movement of the well tool in both directions within the well conduit by the .action ofthe holder 50, which provides a backing for the latches 42 and prevents them from moving inwardly upon engagement of their inclined surfaces 66 with the lower ends 47a of. the upper tubing sections. When it is desired toremove the tool, however, the backing or locking member 5E! isremoved from its vlocked engagement with the latches, which permits them to be forced inwardly out ofthe coupling space and the entire tool withdrawn from the well bore. f

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood. that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Y 1

. VI-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters `Patent is:v

1. A well tool of the type adapted to be lowered by a running-in device into a well tubing having an internal annular yrecess at the tubing joints, said tool including a mandrel, a collar slidable on the mandrel, locking members, springs interconnecting the collar and locking members and tending to move the locking vmembers outwardly, means for releasably locking the locking members against the` mandrel, said springs moving the locking members into the tubing joint recess as the mandrel is pulled upwardly bythe runningin 'device to release said locking means, a backing wall carried by the mandrel and positioned behind the locking members when the mandrel is elevated after the locking members have been sety 6T locking members outwardly, means slidable on said mandrel for holding the locking members retracted against the mandrel during lowering of said mandrel, said springs ,movingthe locking members into the. recess as the mandrel ispulled upwardly by the running-in device to release said slidable means from said locking members, a backingy wall .carried by the mandrel and positioned behind thelocking members when the mandrel is elevated after the locking members have been set in the recess to prevent the locking members from being retracted out of said recess.

v 3. A Well tool adapted to be lowered through a tubular string having an internal annular recess, said tool including a mandrel, a collar slidable on the mandrel, locking members, springs interconnecting the collar and locking members and tending to move the locking members outwardly.V means for releasably locking the locking members against the mandrel, said springs moving the locking members into the annular recess as the mandrel is moved longitudinally through the tubular string to release said locking means, and a backing wall carried bythe mandrel and positioned behind the locking members when the mandrel is moved longitudinally through the tubular string after the locking Vmembers have been set in therecess to prevent retraction of the locking members out of said recess. y I

4. A well tool adapted to be lowered through a tubular string having an internal annular recess, said tool including a mandrel, locking members, spring means on said mandrel and Aconnected to said locking members, said spring means tending to move the locking members outwardly, means for holding said locking members in retracted position on said mandrel or for releasing said locking members from such retracted position, said spring means moving the locking members into the annular recess as the mandrelis moved longitudinally through the tubular string to release said holding means from said locking members, and a backingwall carried by said mandrel and positioned behind the'locking members upon longitudinal movement of said mandrel through the tubular string after the locking members have been set in the recess to prevent retraction of the locking members from said recess.

5. A well tool adapted to be lowered through a tubular string having an internal annular recess, said tool comprising a mandrel, means on said mandrel including spring-like locking members tending to move inherently outwardlyv into said tubular recess, means for holding lsaid locking members in retracted position on said mandrel or for releasing said locking members from such retracted position upon elevation of said mandrel in said tubular string, a backing Awall carried by said mandrel and positioned behind said locking members when the mandrel is elevated after the locking members have been set in the recess to prevent retraction of said locking members fromf said recess.

'6. A device adapted to be loweredthrough' a tubular string positioned in a well bore, including a mandrel, means on said mandrel for anchoring` it to said tubular string, saidy means including instrumentalities for expanding said anchoring means outwardly into engagement with said tu-` bular string, a tool for lowering said device through said tubular string, releasable means coupling said tool to said mandrel and detachable upon the'taking oiV a predetermined upward pull on saidtool to free said tool from said mandrel, means s'lidableon and engaging said mandrel and said tubular string, spring means connecting said latches to said carrier sleeve and tending to move said latches outwardly, a lock on said mandrel engageable with said latches for holding them in such anchoring engagement with said tubular string, a spring between said mandrel and carrier sleeve tending to maintain the lock behind said latches to prevent their inward movement from anchoring engagement with said tubular n string, means comprising a retainer slidable on said mandrel and engageable with said latches to hold them in retracted position with respect to said lock and to hold said carrier sleeve in an upward position on said mandrel against the force of said spring, said last-mentioned means also comprising means adapted to engage said tubular string for sliding said retainer downwardly on said mandrel away from said latches upon upward movement of said mandrel within said tubular string to allow expansion of said latches into engagement with said tubular strings and to allow said spring to shift said lock behind said latches to maintain them in engagement with said tubular string.

14. A device adapted to be lowered through a tubular string positioned in a well bore, including a mandrel, a carrier sleeve slidable on said mandrel, a plurality of latch dogs depending from said carrier sleeve for reception within a coupling space between adjacent sections of said tubular string, spring means connecting said latch dogs to said carrier sleeve and tending to move said dogs outwardly, a lock on said mandrel engageable with said latch dogs for holding them in such coupling space, a spring between said mandrel and carrier sleeve tending to maintain said lock behind said latch dogs to prevent their inward movement from such coupling space, means comprising a retainer slidable on said mandrel and engageable with said latch dogs to hold them inwardly from said coupling space and to hold said carrier sleeve in an upward position on said mandrel against the force ofsaid spring, said lastmentioned means also comprising means adapted to engage said tubular string for sliding said retainer downwardly on said mandrel from engagement with said latch dogs upon upward movement of said mandrel Within said tubular string to allow expansion of said latch dogs into said coupling space and to allow said spring to shift said lock behind said latch dogs to maintain the latter in said coupling space.

l5. A device as defined in claim 14, including a tool adapted to be lowered through said tubular string into engagement with said mandrel and sleeve to shift said mandrel downwardly against the force of said spring to remove said lock from behind said latch dogs to permit inward movement of the latter from such coupling space, said tool and sleeve having inter-engageable means for holding said lock in such downward position.

16. A tool adapted to be lowered through a tubular string, said tool comprising a mandrel, a rst means relatively movable onsaid mandrel and including a supporting member and springlike locking members depending from said supporting member, said locking membersv tending to move inherently outwardly against the tubular string, and retaining means slidable on said mandrel below said locking members and engaging said locking members to hold said locking members in retracted position, said retaining means having means for resisting upward movement of the retaining means upon elevation of said mandrel to release said retaining means from said locking members.

REUBEN C. BAKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,723,600 Cant Aug. 6, 1929 2,392,244 Hooser Jan.V 1, 1946 

